PAT leader moves LHC for dissolution of assemblies

LAHORE: Pakistan Awami Tehreek (PAT) Punjab Vice President Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan has filed a petition before the Lahore High Court (LHC), seeking dissolution of the national and provincial assemblies on the contention that these institutions have lost their legal status. Khan petitioned that a former additional secretary of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Afzal Khan, and the auditor general of Pakistan have made statements, claiming that the 2013 elections were rigged. He stated that elected representatives were accused of getting illegal gratification (commission) from development projects. He said that a majority of the members of the parliament do not qualify under Article 62 of the constitution, alleging that they were involved in corruption. He requested the court to order for dissolution of the assemblies with directions to the ECP to hold fresh elections so that a real democratic government could be established.